RUNNING through the night across the Sahara desert and covering more than 150 miles across sand dunes and mountains would be a tough challenge for any young fit person.

But at 68, the Rev Terry Smith, of Kennington, Oxford, was among the oldest competitors and is thought to be the first clergyman ever to take part in the Marathon des Sables.

It has been described as the toughest foot race on earth, Mr Smith, who hopes to have raised £10,000 for the Kennington Cancer Fund with his efforts, admitted the feat was "very, very hard".

He said: "The whole thing as a package is tough because you don't get much sleep and the stages are made up of different terrain from really rocky grounds, to mountains and sand dunes.

"But giving up was never going to be an option - it certainly wasn't on the cards. I would not have done that whatever.

"Somehow you keep going."

About 800 people signed up for the race at the end of March across Morocco, but about 60 didn't start and a further 30 dropped out before the finish.

Mr Smith, vicar of St Swithun's Church, Kennington, who lives in Ross Court, said: "I think the spirit of the thing is superb and you have to live through it to really appreciate it.

"A couple of times I thought this is really, really, hard but I just took the view right from the word go, that whatever they put in front of me, I was going to do.

"I just made up my mind that whatever the next bit was, I would do it."

Mr Smith battled with temperatures of up to 58 degrees Celsius and had to carry his own food, equipment and sleeping bag.

He also found his personal space being challenged as he had to share a tent with seven other competitors every night.

He said: "When you're in a very small space with seven other people and there's snoring going on and other kinds of noises, you just become very tolerant and you simply don't notice these things."

He added: "I'm delighted I went through it, but I don't think it's all sunk in yet.

"I need a couple of weeks to think about what I've done.

"When I crossed the finish line, I was very relieved and it was quite an emotional finish, which I wasn't really expecting."

He has not come back entirely unscathed - he suffered burned lips and has lost about half a stone in weight.

"When we got back, I just ate voraciously, I ate and ate and ate, so I think I'm back to what I was when I started."

Mr Smith is already looking for a new fundraising challenge - but he's not sure what it will be.

He can still be sponsored - write to Pearl Livett, 159 Upper Road, Kennington, OX1 5LR or log on to the website www.justgiving.com/reverendterrysmith